UFC 250: Cancelled Fight Gets Back on Fight Card After Coronavirus Scares

After the UFC removed it from the card, Ian Heinisch vs Gerald Meerschaert is back on UFC 250. The UFC took the initial decision to remove the fight after one of Heinisch’s cornermen tested positive for Coronavirus. However, further testing revealed different results. The UFC concluded that the earlier results were false and has decided to go ahead with the fight this Saturday.

The news of the cancellation was first reported by TSN. Following the initial setback, the UFC immediately looked for a replacement. They brought in Anthony Ivy to fight Meerschaert. However, multiple sources told MMA Fighting that after a second test came back clean, Heinisch’s position was reinstated. He shared the news on Twitter as well.

The 31-year old Heinisch is coming off a two-fight losing skid. A product of Dana White Contender Series, he has lost his previous two fights against Derek Brunson and Omari Akhmedov. Despite the losses, Ian has signed a four-fight UFC contract recently. He will be looking to end the losing skid and start his new contract on a positive note.

Anthony Ivy will still get his chance to fight despite not being able to fight at UFC 250

The silver lining out of the initial positive test for Ian’s cornerman would have been that newcomer Anthony Ivy would’ve made his UFC debut. Riding a five-fight win streak, Ivy was ready to step in on just a 48-hour notice to fight Gerald Meerschaert. The UFC will reward his promptness shortly. It is expected that he will be booked to fight against an opponent on a later date.

This is not the first instance that the UFC has to battle a case of a positive Coronavirus case. When the UFC returned to action last month, Middleweight Jacare Souza and two of his cornermen tested positive for Coronavirus. A video even showed him near other fighters will he was asymptotic. Fortunately enough for the UFC, no other positive case has stemmed after the case of Jacare.

UFC 250 will take place this Saturday at the Apex Centre in Las Vegas. A women’s Featherweight title clash between Amanda Nunes and Felicia Spencer will headline the event. The card also features two interesting Bantamweight bout. Cody Garbrandt will face Raphael Assuncao whereas Aljamain Sterling will face Cory Sandhagen.